Apparatus for assembling closure caps to receptacles

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for assembling a closure cap fitted with a valve device and an elongated, flexible dip tube within the filling opening formed in the neck of an aerosol dispenser type container body and for simultaneously guiding the dip tube into the interior of the container body through the filling opening during such assembly operation. The apparatus includes engaging means for frictionally engaging a closure cap at a closure cap-feeding work station, means for transporting the engaged closure cap to a container body at a closure cap-placement work station, means for simultaneously guiding the flexible dip tube into the container body and disengaging the closure cap from the engaging means, and means for thereafter returning the engaging means to the closure cap-feeding work station to frictionally engage another closure cap.

[ 51 Jan. 9, 1973 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS TO RECEPTACLES John C. Nalbach, La Grange Park, Ill.

Assignee: John R. Nalbach Engineering Company, Chicago, Ill.

Filed: Jan. 4, 1971 Appl. No.: 103,504

[75] Inventor:

US. Cl. ..29/208 B Int. Cl. ..B23p 19/04 Field of Search ..29/208 B, 208 R, 211, 208 C Aidlin ..29/208 B Jones ..29/2l l X Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Frederick J. Krubel 57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for assembling a closure cap fitted with a valve device and an elongated, flexible dip tube within the filling opening formed in the neck of an;

aerosol dispenser type container body and for simultaneously guiding the dip tube into the interior of the container body through the filling opening during such assembly operation. The apparatus includes engaging means for frictionally engaging a closure cap at a closure cap-feeding work station, means for transporting the engaged closure cap to a container body at a closure cap-placement work station, means for simultaneously guiding the flexible dip tube into the container body and disengaging the closure cap from the engaging means, and means for thereafter returning the en gaging means to the closure cap-feeding work station to frictionally engage another closure cap.

20 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures VIII/II.

VIII/IIIIIIIIA 1 nm APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING CLOSURE CAPS TO RECEPTACLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the manufacture of aerosol-dispenser type containers and, more particularly, to a machine for automatically placing closure caps fitted with preassembled valve devices and dip tubes within the filling openings of the container bodies and simultaneously inserting the dip tubes into the container bodies.

A multitude of different kinds of liquid, solid and gaseous products, such as soap solutions, paints, insecticides, deodorants, and the like are presently being marketed in hermetically sealed, self-dispensing aerosol containers. The product disposed within the container is expelled therefrom by pressure created by a propellent gas which is generally in the form of a liquified-gas or volatile liquid solution having a relatively low boiling point or a compressed gas.

The container usually includes a cylindrical body closed at its bottom end and having an upper neck portion provided with a central circular filling opening which is defined by an outwardly rolled annular bead, the outer surface of which serves as a seat for a closure cap. The container body is generally madeof metal such as tin plate, steel or aluminum but can be made of non-metallic materials such as glass. In the manufacture of aerosol dispensers, subsequent to the operational step wherein the cylindrical body is filled with a predetermined quantity of the product to be dispensed, the closure cap, which has a valve device incorporated therein to control dispensing of the product, is sealed to the outwardly rolled annular bead defining a filling opening in a gas-tight manner. An elongated dip tube, in the form of a tube made of flexible plastic material or the like, is also employed, which has one end attached to the closure cap valve device and its opposite end at or near the container bottom when the closure cap is secured to the container neck portion. The propellant is added to the container body before the closure cap is fixed thereto, or during the cap securing operation, or through the closure cap valve device after the closure cap is secured to the container body.

Heretofore, a most vexing problem existed in the manufacture and processing of aerosol dispensers. Because of the relatively long length of the flexible dip tube and the degree of curvature the dip tube can assume, it is generally necessary to manually insert the dip tube into the open neck of the container when placing the closure cap thereon. Obviously, hand placement of the closure caps on the container necks is not only tedious and time-consuming but, because of the existence of normal human frailties mistakes frequently take place during the operation. As a result the entire process for manufacturing pressurized containers is greatly slowed down. Apparatuses have been devised in an attempt to obviate the necessity of placing closure caps on the containers manually but, prior to the present invention, such apparatus either fail to solve the problem completely because of inherent operating inefficiencies or, if capable of solving the manual operating problem, take the form of relatively high speed, highly complex mechanisms and accordingly, were costly to manufacture and extremely difficult to maintain in proper operating condition. The apparatuses commercially available for eliminating the hand placement of the closure caps either operate at speeds many times greater than can be done manually by one or two persons and/or they are highly inefficient in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to obviate the above and various other shortcomings in the manufacture of pressurized containers by providing a fully automatic, yet relatively inexpensive machine for guiding and inserting the free or leading end of the dip tube into the neck opening of the container while simultaneously properly positioning the closure cap on the neck to close the opening.

Briefly, the apparatus involves a pair of work heads,

each of which is capable of operatively engaging a closure cap, which has a flexible dip tube preassembled or attached thereto, at one station and thereafter transporting the operatively engaged closure cap with the flexible dip tube to another station where the dip tube is inserted into the open neck of a container and the closure cap is simultaneously positioned on the neck. The work heads act in unison such that as one work head is operatively engaging a closure cap the other work head is positioning a closure cap on the neck of a container. Thus, in effect, the machine is double acting and is designed to operate at speeds normally achieved by one or two efficient assembly line workers.

The machine includes a unique guiding mechanism for directing the elongated, flexible dip tube into the neck opening of the container which guiding mechanism also serves as a means for stripping or operatively disconnecting the closure cap from the work head prior to its return movement to the closure cap feeding station. The guiding mechanism is effective to guide the free or leading end of the flexible tube depending from the closure cap with which it is assembled beforehand, and to assure its alignment with and entry into a container during assembly of the closure cap and container.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for positively and correctly positioning each closure cap assembly at the closure cap-feeding station of the apparatus and for mitigating the possi bility of malfunctioning of the apparatus caused by the presence of cocked and/or jammed and overlapping closure caps at the closure cap-feeding station.

The invention'also contemplates the provision of a second embodiment, utilizing the same inventive concept incorporated in the apparatus noted above, but employing two pair of work heads instead of a single pair of work heads. The operating speed is substantially doubled without a corresponding doubling of the number of components involved and the cost of manufacturing the apparatus.

Still another object is to provide support frame adjusting means whereby containers of various heights may be processed by the apparatus.

A still further object is to provide a versatile automatic apparatus of the above described type which is compact and of relatively simple design and, hence, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture but yet is sturdily constructed and highly efficient in operation.

The apparatus, while particularly suitable in the manufacture of aerosol-dispenser type containers, is also usable in the positioning and placement of closure caps and dip tube assemblies on and in container bodies of the type wherein the contents of the container are expelled therefrom by manually operable pump means incorporated in the closure cap rather than by a propellent gas.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features, inherent in and encompassed by the invention, together with many of the purposes and uses thereof will become readily apparent from a reading of the ensuing description in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic closure cap positioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, portions of certain components are broken away to better illustrate the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the workheads;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, the means for delivering container bodies to the closure cap applying work station is shown somewhat diagrammatically;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the apparatus, portions of the structure are broken away to better illustrate the operation of the workheads;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 6 showing the mechanisms for controlling the operation of the dip tube guide and closure cap stripping elements and the means for feeding closure caps and container bodies to the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7 illustrating the mechanism for positioning a single closure cap member at the closure cap feeding work station;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the dip tube guide and closure cap stripping elements;

FIGS. 10 to 12 are enlarged, detail vertical views, partially in section of certain positions assumed by the dip tube guide and closure cap stripping elements and one of the work head mandrels during one half of the operational cycle of the work head mandrel; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, portions of the structure are broken away to better illustrate the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters represent like elements throughout the various views, the apparatus of the present invention includes a generally flat support base 10. The lowermost end of a generally cylindrical standard 11 is suitably fixed to the support base 10. As best shown in FIG. 1, the standard 11 extends vertically from the base 10 and is provided with an elongated radially projecting key 12. The support frame, designated generally by reference character 13, includes vertically spaced upper and lower, substantially parallel plates 14 and 15, respectively. The upper and lower plates 14 and 15 are rigidly connected to a vertically disposed back plate 16 by any suitable means. A pair of vertically spaced clamp members l7, 18 are employed for releasably connecting the backplate 16 to the standard 11. Each of the clamp members 17, 18 is adapted to substantially encircle the standard 11 and is provided with a keyway 19 for slidably receiving the key 12. Suitable threaded clamp operating elements are utilized for tightening and releasing the ,clamp members 17 and 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, an elongated screw member 21 is rotatably supported by bracket 22 secured to the up-' permost end of the standard 11. An operating handle 23 is suitably connected to the uppermost end of the screw member 21. The upper clamp member 17 is provided with an elongated vertical opening therethrough for receiving the screw member 21 therein. The opening is defined by screw threads cooperable with the screw threads formed on the screw member 21. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the support frame 13 is vertically adjustable along the standard 11. By merely loosening the clamp operating elements 20 of both the upper and lower clamp members 17, 18 and thereafter turning the screw member 21 by means of the operating handle 23 the support frame 13 may be readily elevated or lowered with respect to the support base 10. Once the desired vertical adjustment is achieved, the clamp operating elements 20 are retightened to maintain the adjustment. The cojoint action of the key 12 and clamp members keyways l9 prevents rotational movement of the support frame 13 with respect to the standard 11. By providing the aforesaid vertical adjustment feature for the support frame 13, containers of a multitude of different heights or dip tubes of various lengths may be accommodated by a single machine of the present invention.

The apparatus of the present invention is suited to handle a variety of containers or receptacles of different sizes, shapes and the term container. as used herein shall include cans, bottles and other receptacles made of any kind of material whether metallic or not and whether magnetic or not. However, the apparatus has particular utility in the manufacturing and processing of containers containing a product which is dispensed from the container by means of a propellant also contained within the receptacle. The container 24 usually includes a cylindrical body 25 which is generally, but not necessarily made of metal. The metal oftentimes is the conventionalmaterial known as tin plate or aluminum. The container body 25 is closed at its bottom end and has an upper neck portion 26 provided with a reduced-diameter, central circular filling opening which is defined by an outwardly rolled annular bead 27, the outer surface of which serves as a seat for a closure cap 28 which is generally performed with a cup-shape bottom portion 29 partially defined by a cylindrical wall 30 and with a peripheral flange 31 extending radially outwardly from' the normally upper end of the cylindrical wall 30. The flange 31 has a substantially semi-circular cross section and is adapted to engage and overlie the annular bead 27. The lower portion of the cylindrical wall 30 of the closure cap 28 is expanded radially outwardly into sealing relation with the can body 25. A suitable gasket (not shown) carried by the flange 31 is compressed between the wall of the bead 27 and the flange 31 during the closure cap securing operation. The closure cap 28 is fitted with a central valve device 32 for controlling the discharge of the pressure-propelled product from the container 24. Each closure cap 28 is provided with an elongated, flexible extention or dip tube 33 which is preferably made of a plastic material or other material having similar physical characteristics. One end of the dip tube 33 is attached to the valve device 32 and the length of the dip tube 33 is chosen so that its opposite or free end is at or adjacent to the closed bottom of the container body 25 when the closure cap 28 associated therewith is secured to the neck portion 26 of the container 24. The dip tube 33 serves as the means for conveying the contents of the container 24 to the valve device 32 in the closure cap 28.

Inasmuch as the dip tube 33, of necessity has a length at least equal to or, in many instances longer than the height of the container 24 within which it is disposed and since dip tube lengths are usually cut from a coil or foll and then attached to the closure cap valve device 32, there is a substantial tendency for the dip tubes 33 to curl and thus cause the free end of each dip tube 33 to be displaced or radially spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the valve device 32 a distance greater than the radius of the cylindrical wall 30 or the radius of the circular filling opening of the container 24 prior to assembly of the closure cap 28 and the container body 25. Obviously, such extreme flexure of the dip tube 33 renders insertion of the free or normally lowermost end of the dip tube 33 into the reduced-diameter, container filling opening and placement of the closure cap 28 on the neck bead 27 somewhat difficult and time-consuming. The apparatus of the present invention alleviates the problem by guiding the free or leading end of the flexible dip tube 33 depending from a closure cap 28 with which it is assembled and maintains the dip tube 33 against undue flexure and assures its alignment with and entry into a container body 25'during assembly of the closure cap 28, and the container body 25.

Although not shown in detail, power-driven container body feeding means, designated generally by reference character 34, are provided for delivering or feeding container bodies in an upright manner serially to a closure cap-placement or receiving work station of the apparatus where a closure cap 28, fitted with'a preassembled valve device 32 and dip tube 33 is positioned within the filler opening of the container neck portion 26 of the container 24 at such work station. Preferably, the container body feeding means is in the form of an intermittently rotated conventional star wheel or turret which also functions to convey the container bodies 25 in an upright manner from the capreceiving work station of the apparatus after being fitted with closure caps 28. It is to be understood that the operation of the star wheel is synchronized by any suitable means with the operation of the apparatus so that a container body 25 is fed to the closurecap-placement work station and remains at such work station in a stationary condition only so long as it takes the apparatus to position a closure cap 28 within the neck portion filler opening thereof. The turret functions to continually position a container body 25 at the closurereceiving work station at the proper time to receive a closure cap 28 and serves to provide a predetermined space between adjacent container bodies 25 as they are moved to and from the apparatus. Obviously, proper spacing of the containers 24 is necessary to insure proper and efficient operation of the apparatus.

As best shown in FIG. 1, an upper bearing support bracket 35 is secured to and depends vertically from the underside of the upper plate 14 of the support frame 13. The bearing support bracket 35 carries a shaft bearing 36, which may be of conventional design. A similar shaft bearing 37 is rigidly connected to the lower plate 15 of the support frame 13. The bearings 36, 37 serve as means for rotatably supporting a vertically extending shaft 38. The uppermost end 39 of the shaft 38 is connected to the lowermost end 40 of a motor shaft 41 by means of a flexible coupling 42, which may be of a conventional design. The motor shaft 41 extends downwardly through the upper plate 14 and is the output shaft of a reversible half revolution, air operated motor 43 of any well known design mounted upon the upper plate 14. It is to be understood that the motor shaft 41, and thus the shaft 38, is capable of being driven first in one direction for 180 and then in a reverse direction for 180 by the motor Rigidly secured to the shaft 38 directly above the lower plate 15 of the support frame 13, as by welding or the like, is a generally rectangularly shaped bar 44. The bar 44 serves as a lower support for a pair of vertically disposed sleeves 45, 46. The lowermost end portions of the sleeves 45, 46 extend through the bar 44 adjacent the ends thereof and the uppermost end portion of each sleeve 45, 46 extends into a respective one of a pair of recesses formed through a generally flat, horizontally disposed plate47. The uppermost end portions of the sleeves 45, 46 are rigidly secured to the plate 47 by any suitable means, such as welding. A pair of transversely spaced, generally vertically disposed air-operated piston-cylinder assemblies 48, 49 are rigidly supported on plate 47. Each of the piston-cylinder assemblies 48, 49 is in vertical alignment with a respective one of the sleeves 45, 46. Each pistoncylinder assembly 48, 49 includes an outer cylinder 50 in which a piston 51 is adapted to reciprocate. Attached to each piston 51, as in conventional air-operated piston-cylinder assemblies, is an elongated, generally cylindrical piston rod 52, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Air under pressure is directed to the top of the cylinder 50 to effectthe down stroke of the piston 51 and, conversely, air under pressure is fed to the lower'end of thecylinder 50 to effect the up stroke of the piston 51. It will be noted that the lowermost end section 53 of the piston rod 52 illustrated in FIG. 2 is provided with screw threads 54. It is to be understood that the lowermost end of the piston rod 52 which is not illustrated in detail issimilarly constructed.

The rotatable frame structure 55 described above, which includes the shaft 38, bar 44, sleeves 45, 46 and plate 47, serves as the means for transporting closure caps 28 from a closure cap-feeding work station of the apparatus to the closure cap-placement or receiving work station, as will be apparent hereinafter.

As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure caps 28 are individually and serially fed or delivered to the closure cap-feeding work station of the apparatus by means of a guide chute or track, designated in its entirety by reference character 56 and partially illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The closure caps 28, as pointed out hereinbefore, are preassembled with valve devices 32 and elongated, flexible dip tubes 33 prior to being as sembled on the container bodies 25. It will be noted that the closure cap-feeding work station, defined by one end of the track 56, is at a side of the apparatus diametrically opposite the side of the closure capplacement work station. The end of the track 56 opposite the end at the closure cap-feeding work station is not shown in the drawings nor are the means for feeding closure-caps to the track 56 shown since such means form no part of the present invention. The guide track 56 includes a relatively long, inclined section 57, partially shown in the drawings, which merges into a relatively short, horizontally disposed end section 58. The guide track 56 includes a pair of spaced and parallel feed rails 59, 60 which are capable of slidingly supporting a row or series of closure-caps 28. The space between the feed rails 59, 60 accommodates the dip tubes 33 depending from the closure-caps 28 and permits them to freely hang from the closure caps 28 and not impede downward movement by gravity of the closure caps toward the closure cap-feeding work station. Rigidly fastened to the uppermost side of the feed rail 59, by any suitable means is side bar 61. A similar side bar 62 is fastened to the feed rail 60. The side bars 61, 62 serve to prevent undue lateral movement of the closure caps 28 and to maintain them in proper alignment as they are being fed to the apparatus. In order to prevent bunching, stacking or canting of the closure caps 28 as they move toward the closure cap-feeding work station, the side bars 61, 62 are respectively provided with elongated plates 63, 64. The plates 63, 64 project toward each other and the innermost edges thereof are spaced a distance less than the diameters of the closure caps 28. Although not shown since it forms no part of the present invention, means may be provided for vibrating the guide track 56 to facilitate downward sliding movement of the closure caps 28 supported on the guide track 56 toward the horizontal end section 58 at the closure cap-feeding work station of the apparatus. The guide track 56 has one end suitably attached to the stationary lower plate of the support frame 13, as shown in FIG. 6.

In order to insure the proper positioning of the closure caps 28 at the closure cap-feeding work station, an air-operated positioning mechanism, designated in its entirety by reference character 65, is provided adjacent the closure cap-feeding work station. The mechanism 65 includes a support block 66 having a central groove 67 formed in the lowermost surface thereof so as to provide a pair of spaced and parallel legs 68 and 69. The block 66 is mountedupon the horizontal end section 58 of the guide track 56 with the legs 68 and 69 suitably secured to the side bars 61, 62, respectively. Rigidly connected to the block 66 upon the uppermost surface thereof is a transversely projecting plate 70. A relatively small double acting piston-cylinder assembly 71 is mounted on the plate 70, as clearly shown in FIG. 8. The piston-cylinder assembly 71 includes a piston rod 72 having the end thereof disposed exteriorly of the cylinder 73 inthe form of a reduced diameter threaded section 74. The threaded section 74 is adapted to extend through an opening formedthrough a vertically disposed arm 75 adjacent the uppermost end thereof. A nut 76 is employed for securely fastening the piston rod 72 to the arm 75. One end of a transversely extending, elongated bar 77 is rigidly secured, as by welding or the like, to the arm 75 intermediate its upper and lower ends. The uppermost surface 78 of the bar 77 is adapted to slidingly engage the lowermost surface 79 of the plate 70, asillustrated in FIG. 8. The bar 77 extends through a transversely extending, generally rectangularly shaped passageway formed by means of channel shaped groove in the uppermost surface 80 of the support block 66 and the lowermost surface area of the plate 70 overlying such groove. One end of a reciprocating blade 81 is also rigidly secured to the arm 75 at the lowermost end thereof, as by welding or the like. Similarly, the opposite end of the blade 81 .is secured to the lowermost end of a vertically disposed leg 82. The opposite or uppermost end of the leg 82, in turn, issecurely fixed to the end of the bar 77 opposite the arm 75. As best shown in FIG. 8, the blade 81 is substantially horizontally disposed and is reciprocable transversely or normally to longitudinal axis of the guide track 56. Suitable transversely aligned openings are provided in the side bars 61, 62 of the guide track 56 to accommodate such reciprocable movement of the blade 81. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that when air under pressure. is introduced to the cylinder 73 of the piston-cylinder assembly 71 through an inlet-outlet port 83 at one end of the cylinder 73, the blade 81 is caused to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 8, to the position illustrated in FIG. 7. Conversely, when air under pressure is admitted into the cylinder 73 through an inlet-outlet port 84 at the opposite end of the cylinder 73 and'the blade 81 is in such left hand position shown in FIG. 7, the piston rod 72 and, hence, the blade 81 are moved to the right to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. It is to be understood that suitable valve means (not shown) are provided for controlling air under pressure to and the exhaust of such air under pressure from the cylinder 73 and the operation of such valve means are responsive to and dependent upon the operation of other components of the apparatus in a manner that will be pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the blade 81, in effect, is provided with an opening therethrough extending from its transversely extending, trailing edge 85 to its leading edge 86 spaced and parallel with respect to the trailing edge 85. In reality, the opening serves to divide the blade 81 into a closure cap-positioning blade section 87, provided with a substantially flat camming edge 89 which extends between the trailing and leading edges 85, 86, respectively, and intersects the trailing.

edge 85 at an acute angle, when viewed in plan, so as to provide a pointed tip portion 90. The closure cap abutment blade section 88 also includes a diagonally disposed edge 91, which extends between the trailing and leading edges 85, 86, respectively, and serves as a closure cap abutment edge in a manner which will be pointed out presently. It will be noted that the closure cap abutment edge 91 intersects the leading edge 86 of blade 81 at an acute angle rather than the trailing edge 85 as in the case of the closure cap camming edge 89 of the closure cap-positioning blade section 87. When the blade 81 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the abutment edge 91 is in engagement with an exterior surface portion of the cylinder wall 30 of the closure cap 28 contiguous to the closure cap-feeding work station. Thus, inasmuch as the abutment edge 91 is disposed in the path of such closure cap 28, it is precluded from entering the closure cap-feeding work station and interfering with the operation of the apparatus. It will be appreciated that the abutment edge 91 effectively assures the presence of only one closure cap 28 at a time in the closure cap-feeding work station. Assuming the blade 81 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 and is reciprocated toward the position illustrated in FIG. 8, the abutment edge 91 is moved transversely out of the path of the closure cap-feeding work station and simultaneously the tip portion 90 of the closure cap positioning blade section 87 is caused to enter the space between such closure cap 28 and the closure cap 28 adjacent thereto. As the blade 81 continues to move transversely toward the position shown in FIG. 8, the camming edge 89 of the positioning blade section 87 engages an exterior surface portion of the cylindrical wall 30 of the closure cap 28 and applies a positive force thereto to move the closure cap 28 to the closure cap-feeding work station. Reverse movement of the blade 81 from the position shown in FIG. 8 once again positions the abutment edge 91 in the path of the next adjacent closure cap 28, as pointed out hereinbefore.

The threaded end section 53 of each piston rod 52 is screwed into an interiorly threaded bore 92 extending along the longitudinal axis from one end of a respective work head mandrel 93. The mandrels 93 are generally cylindrical in shape and are each provided with a central recess or pocket 94 at the lowermost end thereof,

as best shown in FIG. 2. The outer diameter of the lowermost end portion of each work head mandrel 93 is less than the inside diameter of the cylindrical wall 30 of a closure cap 28 for a purpose which will be apparent presently. Each work head mandrel 93 is also provided with an annular groove 95 is a closure cap engaging element 100. The closure cap engaging element 100 is preferably in the form of an o-ring or the like made of a compressible material such as rubber or other materials having similar physical characteristics. The element 100 may also be in the form of a garter spring and constructed of a helically wound spring having its ends joined together to form a ring. As best shown in FIG. 2, an annular portion of the element 100 projects radially outwardly from the mandrel 93 and in its uncompressed state has a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the cylindrical wall 30 of a closure cap 28. Thus, when the lowermost end portion of the work head mandrel 93 is inserted into the top of a closure cap 28 with the terminal end 101 of the mandrel 93 abutting or-closely adjacent to the bottom portion 29 of the closure cap 28, the element 100 compresses and frictionally grips the interior side of the closure cap cylindrical wall 30, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. It will also be noted that the pocket 94 formed in the work head mandrel 93 accommodates the upwardly projecting portion of the valve device 32 preassembled on the closure cap 28. Preferably, the end portion 102 of each work head mandrel 93 disposed between the terminal end 101 and the groove 95 thereof is tapered so as to facilitate insertion of the lowermost end portion of the mandrel 93 into the top of the closure caps 28.

As pointed out hereinbefore, means are provided for guiding the lowermost or free end of the dip tube 33 into the filling opening found in the neck portion 26 of a container body 25 as the closure cap 28 with which the dip tube 33 is associated is being applied or positioned on the neck portion 26 of the container body 25. The dip tube guiding means, includes funnel-shaped member 103 formed with a tapered bore therethrough with the large end of the bore disposed above the small end thereof. It will be noted that the diameter'of the large end of the bore is greater than the diameter of the peripheral flange 31 of a closure cap 28 and, conversely, the diameter of the small end of the bore is smaller than the neck portion filling opening of a container body 25.

The funnel-shaped member 103 comprises a pair of substantially identically constructed and shaped elements 104, 105. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a mounting bar 106 is fastened to the stationary lower plate of the support frame 13. Each of the elements 104, is provided with a relatively short pivot pin 107 which is adapted to be rotatably supported in an edge portion 108 of the lower plate 15. A stub shaft 109, fixed to the element 104 and in axial alignment with a respective pivot pin 107, extends through an opening in the mounting bar 106. A similar but slightly longer stub shaft 110 rigidly secured to the element 105 also extends through an opening in the mounting bar 106. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the pivotal axes of the funnel elements 104 and 105 are spaced and parallel and the funnel elements 104, 105 are capable of swinging between fully closed positions, shown in FIG. 10, to fully opened positions, illustrated in FIG. 11. The funnel elements 104, 105 are constrained to pivot in unison and such action is accomplished by means of a pair of meshing gears 111, 112 which are non-rotatably connected to the stub shafts 109, 110 respectively. Also keyed to the stub shaft 110 adjacent the gear 112 is a small ratchet wheel 113. The funnel elements 104, 105 are yieldably urged toward their fully closed position by means of a helically wound tension spring 14 which has one end suitably anchored to the lower plate 15 and its opposite end attached to one end of a pin 115. The opposite end of the pin 115, in turn, is fixed to the stub shaft 109 and extends radially from such stub shaft 109, as shown in FIG. 9.

A dog 116, formed on oneend of an arm 117, is operatively engageable with theratchet wheel 113 in a manner which will be pointed out hereinafter. The arm 117 is pivotally connected to the lower plate l5at its opposite end by means of a pivot pin 118. A helically wound compression spring 119 has one end seated within a recess formed in the undersurface of the lower plate 15 and has its opposite end reacting against a projection 119a integrally formed with and extending from the arm 117. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the spring 114 is effective to yieldably urge the dog 116 toward the peripheral edge 120 of the ratchet wheel 1 13. As shown in FIG. 9, the peripheral edge 120 of the ratchet wheel 113 includes a curved section 121, a radially extending shoulder 122 at one end of the curved section 121, and a flat section 123 extending perpendicularly from the radially extending shoulder 122. The arm 117 also has an abutment 124 which may be integrally formed with or fixedly attached to the arm 117. The abutment 124 projects vertically upwardly above the top of the arm 117 as shown in FIG. 9. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that when the radially extending surface 125 of the dog 116 is in abutting engagement with the radially extending flat shoulder 122 of the ratchet wheel 113, as shown in FIG. 9, the gear 111 is prevented from rotating in a clockwise direction and the gear 112 is likewise prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction. Consequently, the funnel elements 104 and 105 are constrained from moving to their fully closed positions under the influence of the spring 114. However, upon rocking of the arm 117 sufficiently against the resilient action of the compression spring 1 19 to free the surface 125 of the dog 116 from abutting engagement with the ratchet wheel shoulder 122, the vfunnel elements 104, 105 are immediately moved to their fully closed positions by the spring 114 in a rapid manner. The reason for preventing movement of the funnel elements 104, 105 by the above described interaction of the dog 116 and ratchet wheel 113 during certain phases of the operational cycle of the apparatus will be pointed out hereinafter. Also the manner in which the dog 116 is moved out of locking engagement with the ratchet wheel 113 will be described with particularity presently.

OPERATION In the following description of the operation of the apparatus of the present invention, only the operational cycle of one of the work head mandrels 93 will be described in detail. However, it is to be understood that the operation of work head mandrel 93 not described in detail is exactly the same with the exception that it is 180 out of phase. At the start of the operational cycle, the work head mandrels 93 are both in their fully retracted positions within their respective sleeves 45, 46, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The guide track 56 is sup-' plied with a plurality of closure caps 28, each of which has a flexible dip tube 33 preassembled or attached thereto, as partially illustrated in FIG. 6. Preferably a single closure cap 28 is positioned at the closure capfeeding work station and, similarly, a container body 25 is at the closure cap-placement work station. It will also be appreciated that at the start of the operation each of the sleeves 45, 46 is in vertical alignment with a respective one of the closure cap-feeding and closure capplacement work stations.

Upon energization of the apparatus, compressed air is directed to the uppermost ends of the piston cylinder assemblies 48, 49 through suitable conduit means 126, partially illustrated in FIG. 1, causing the work head mandrels 93 to simultaneously descent in the sleeves 45, 46. As the work head mandrel 93 in vertical alignment with the closure cap-feeding work station approaches the end of its downward stroke the lowermost terminal end 101 of the mandrel 93 enters the space encircled by the cylindrical wall 30 of the closure cap 28 positioned at the closure cap-feeding work station. The tapered end portion 102 of the mandrel 93 is effective to properly center the closure cap 28 in the event'it happens to be slightly misaligned with respect to the mandrel 93 before the mandrel 93 reaches the end of its downward stroke and is in its fully extended position. Inasmuch as the annular portion of the closure cap engaging element has a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the cylindrical wall 30 of the closure cap 28 as pointed out hereinbefore, further downward movement of the mandrel 93, once the lowermost end portion commences to enter the top of the closure cap 28, causes the closure cap engaging element 100 to compress and frictionally grip the interior side of the closure cap cylindrical wall 30. Thus, when the lowermost terminal end 101 of the mandrel 93 is abutting or closely adjacent to the bottom portion 29 of the closure cap at the end of the downward stroke of the mandrel 93, the mandrel 93 and closure cap 28 are firmly yet releasably connected together. Upon reaching its fully extended position a air-switch (not shown) is actuated or tripped which, in turn, effects operation of an air flow valve means (not shown) which is part of a compressed air system for effecting operation of the piston-cylinder assemblies 49, 50, air motor 43, and the piston-cylinder, assembly 71. The compressed air system as well as all of the switches and air flow control valves involved with such system are not shown nor will they be described .in detail since they form no part of the present invention. In fact, other actuating systems together with suitable control components rather than compressed air could be employed for effecting reciprocation of the work head mandrels 93, rotation of the frame structure 55, and operation of the container cap positioning mechanism 65 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Once the aforementioned switch is trippedindicating the fully extended position of the mandrel. 93, the direction of movement of the mandrel 93is reversed and the closure cap 28 which is now frictionally gripped by one of the mandrels, as pointed out hereinbefore, also raises with such mandrel and is moved vertically out of the closure cap-feeding work station. As

the frictionally held closure cap 28 is pulled by the mandrel 93 into the sleeve 45 or,46 associated with such mandrel, the dip tube 33 attached to and dependframe structure 55 if a container body 25 not positioned at the closure cap placement or receiving work station. The relative disposition of the various components and parts of the apparatus during the aforementioned rotational movement of the frame structure 55 in the direction of arrow 126 is illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the dip tube 33 attached to the closure cap 28 is completely disposed within the sleeve 46 during such rotational movement.

At the completion of the last described operational.

phase or step of the operating cycle, the sleeve 46 will now be in vertical alignment with the closure capplacement work station of the apparatus. The longitudinal axis of the particular mandrel 93 having the closure cap 28 attached thereto is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tapered bore defined by the interior surfaces of the funnel elements 104 and 105. The funnel elements 104 and 105 are in their fully closed positions, as shown in FIG. 10, at the completion of the 180 swing of the frame structure 55 described above. A switch (not shown) in the control circuit is' tripped at the completion of the aforementioned 180 swing of the frame structure 55 to once again cause the work head mandrels 93 to start moving downwardly in the direction of the arrows 127 of FIG. 6 and commence the next operational phase or step of the operational cycle of the apparatus. As evidenced from viewing FIG. 6, the lowermost end of the sleeve 46 is spaced relatively close to the uppermost end of the funnelshaped member 103 during this operational phase of the apparatus. Accordingly, as the mandrel 93 descends, the lowermost end of the dip tube 33 depending from the closure cap 28 enters the split funnelshaped member 103 and is guided thereby into the filling opening formed in the neck portion 26 of the container body 25 positioned at the closure cap placement work station of the apparatus. It will be noted that the annular bead 27 of the container body 25 is vertically spaced relatively close to lowermost end of the split funnel-shaped member 103 and thus the possibility of the lowermost or free end of the dip tube 33 not correctly entering the container body filling opening is virtually nil.

As the work head mandrel 93 continues to move downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 10, the peripheral flange 31 of the closure cap 28 is brought into abutting engagement with the funnel elements 104 and 105. Thereafter, further downward movement of the work head mandrel 93 and closure cap 28 from the positions shown in FIG. forces the small or lower ends of the funnel elements 104 and 105 to pivot outwardly away from each other against the resilient action of the spring 114. FIG. 11 illustrates the fully opened positions of the funnel elements 104 and 105. It will be noted that the peripheral flange 31 of the closure cap 28 is just passing out of sliding engagement with the interior surfaces of the funnel elements 104 and 105. It will also be noted that during the vertical movement of the mandrel from the position shown in FIG. 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 11, the ratchet wheel 113 is rotated in a clockwise direction and the surface 128 of the dog 116 disposed normally to the radially extending surface 125 thereof, which was in sliding engagement with the curved section 121 of the ratchet wheel edge 120 at the start of the above described movement is now disposed adjacent to the flat section 123 of the ratchet wheel edge 120. More importantly, however, the radially extending surface 125 of-the dog 116 is spaced from and in the circumferential path of movement of the radially extending shoulder 122 of the ratchet wheel 113. The significance of this fact will be appreciated presently.

As the work head mandrel 93 descends still further from the position illustrated in FIG. 11, the peripheral flange 31 of the closure cap 28 eventually moves out of engagement with the interior surfaces of the funnel elements 104 and 105 and when this occurs, the lowermost ends of the funnel elements 104 and mediately rotate toward each other under the influence of the spring 114 to the positions illustrated in FIG. 9. The funnel elements 104, 105 are prevented from moving to their fully closed positions by virtue of the fact that they now ride on the exterior surface of the mandrel 93 above the closure cap engaging element 100. When the mandrel 93 reaches the end of its downward stroke at which point the peripheral flange 31 of the closure cap 28 is vertically spaced relatively closely to and in vertical alignment with the container body annular bead 27, suitable control means (not shown) are activated causing the mandrel 93 to again reverse its stroke and commences an upward stroke. As the mandrel 93 and the closure cap 23, which is still releasably connected to the mandrel 93, are retracted portions of the lowermost, generally semi-circular edges 129' and 130' of the funnel elements 104 and 105, respectively, are brought into abutting engagement with the peripheral flange 31 of the closure cap 28. It will be appreciated that upon still further upward movement of the mandrel 93, the closure cap 28 is stripped from the lower end of the mandrel 93. FIG. 9 illustrates the relative positions assumed by the funnel elements 104 and 105, the closure cap 28, and mandrel 93 during the stripping operation. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the funnel elements 104 and 105 perform a dual function in the overall operation of the apparatus. The funnel elements 104 and 105 are effective to properly guide the closure cap dip tube 33 into the container body filling opening and to serve as the means for separating the closure cap 28 from the lower end of the mandrel 93. v I

As the work head mandrel 93 continues to move upwardly after the closure cap 28 has been detached therefrom and has fallen by gravity to a position closing the container body filler opening, it reaches a position where it is no longer in sliding engagement with the interior surface of the funnel elements 104 and 105. When this position is reached and the lower ends of funnel elements 104, 105 cease to be held apart by the mandrel 93, they are prevented from moving any amount whatsoever toward their closed positions by the resilient action of the spring 114 or at the most, are only permitted to move in a closing direction a very slight distance. This restraint of the funnel elements 104, 105 is accomplished by the cojoint action of the dog 116 and ratchet wheel 113. As pointed out hereinbefore, during the closure cap stripping operation, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the radially extending surface of the dog 116 is in circumferential alignment with and circumferentially spaced closely adjacent to the radial shoulder 122 of the ratchet wheel 113. Thus, once the mandrel 93 is moved out of engagement with the funnel elements 104 and 105, the lowermost ends of such funnel elements can only be swung toward their closed positions by the spring 114 a very small amount since the dog surface 125 engages the shoulder 122 almost immediately upon disengagement of the mandrel 93 from the funnel elements 104, 105 to provide further rotation of the ratchet wheel 113 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9. Obviously, once the dog surface 125 is in abutting engagement with the ratchet wheel shoulder 122, the lowermost ends of the funnel elements 104, 105 will be held apart until the dog surface 125 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel shoulder 122. It is necessary to maintain the lowermost ends of the funnel elements 104, 105 separated to allow that portion of the valve device 32 which projects above the peripheral flange 31 of the closure cap 28 seated upon the container body bead 27 and which is disposed above the lowermost edges of the funnel members 104, 105 to freely pass through such funnel elements 104, 105 without interference as the container body feeding means 34 is actuated to move such container body 25 that was just fitted with a closure cap 23 from the closure cap-placement work station and another container body 25 is simultaneously moved into the closure capplacement work station.

When the mandrel 93 reaches the top of its stroke and is in its fully retracted position, control means (not shown) are actuated causing the air motor 43, in turn, to be driven in a direction to effect reverse 180 rotation of the frame structure 55. During such reverse rotation of the frame structure 55, the end portion of the lower elongated bar 44, which is a part of the frame structure 55, as pointed out hereinbefore, momentarily engages and depresses the abutment 124 to cause the arm 117 to pivot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 12 against the action of the spring 119. The arm 117 is pivoted sufficiently to move the radially extending surface 125 of the dog 116 out of abutting engagement with the ratchet wheel shoulder 122. When this occurs, the funnel elements 104, 105 are immediately actuated to their fully closed positions, as shown in FIG. 12, by the spring 114 in anticipation of the next cycle. It will be appreciated that once the funnel elements 104, 105 are permitted to assume their fully closed positions and the arm abutment 124 is no longer in engagement with the bar 44, the arm 117 is pivoted about the pivot pin 118 by the spring 119 to the position illustrated in FIG. in which the surface 128 of the dog 116 engages the curved section 121 of the ratchet wheel 113. It will be appreciated, that upon completion of the last mentioned 180 reverse swinging of the frame structure 55 one complete cycle of operation of one of the work head mandrels 93 will take place and the particular work head mandrel 93, the operation of which has been described above, will be in the same position it wasat the start of the operational cycle. Thur, the mandrel 93 will again be in vertical alignment with a closure cap 28 positioned at the closure cap-feeding work station of the apparatus.

As pointed out hereinbefore, both work head man drels 93 work in unison but are 180 out of phase in the operational cycle. Thus, one mandrel 93 is descending to pick up a closure cap 28 at the closure cap-feeding station while the other mandrel 93 simultaneously descends to place a closure cap 28 within the filling opening of a container body 25. Conversely, one work head mandrel 93 carries a closure cap 28 into the sleeve 45 or 46 associated therewith during its upward stroke preliminarily to transporting the same closure cap-placement work station while the closure cap 28 carried by the other mandrel 93 is being simultaneously stripped from such mandrel 93 and deposited on the neck portion 26 of a container body 25. It will also be appreciated that the operation of the closure cap positioning mechanism 65 is synchronized with the rotational movement of the frame structure 55 and reciprocation of the work head mandrels 93 by suitable control means, (not shown) in such a manner that it is effective to position a single closure cap 28 at'the closure cap-feeding work station at the commencement of the down strokes of the work head mandrels 93.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION ILLUSTRATED IN FIG. 13

The apparatus shown in FIG. 13, like the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 and described hereinbefore, includes a pair of vertically extending, spaced and parallel piston-cylinder assemblies 129, partially shown in FIG. 13. Each piston-cylinder assembly 129, in turn includes an elongated piston rod 130. The apparatus also includes a rotatable shaft 131 which is adapted to be driven first in one-direction for 180 and then in a reverse direction for 180 by means not shown but which may take the form of the components, controls, and structures employed to rotate the shaft 38 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The lowermost ends of the piston-cylinder assemblies 129 are attached to a plate 132. The lowermost end of each piston rod 130 is connected to the mid portion of a generally horisontally ex-- tending cross piece 133. Suitably fastened to each end of each cross piece 133 is a work head mandrel 134. Each mandrel 134 is constructed and functions in substantially the same manner as a work head mandrel 93. Each work head mandrel 134 is reciprocable within a respective elongated sleeve 135. The sleeves 135 are each provided with a vertical slot 136 therethrough in order to accommodate a respective cross piece end portion therethrough. Thelowermost end portions of the sleeves 135 extend through and are rigidly secured to a plate 137 which performs the same function in the apparatus of FIG. 13 as the bar 44 of the apparatusv shown in FIG. 1. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the two piston-cylinder assemblies 129, instead of actuating only two work head mandrels as in the apparatus of FIG. 1, reciprocate four work head mandrels 134 in unison. The apparatus of FIG. 13 also includes a pair of split funnel-shaped members 138, 139 rather than a single funnel-shaped member 103 as employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the funnel-shaped members 138, 139 function is substantially the same manner as the funnel-shaped member 103 to guide a dip tube 33 into the filler opening of a container body25 and to effect stripping of the closure cap 28 from the end of a work head mandrel 134. The funnel-shapedmembers 138, v

139 act in unison and the operation of both of such members 138, 139 is controlled by a single ratchet wheel-dog mechanism, designated generally by reference character 140. The apparatus of FIG. 13 also includes a pair of closure cap feed tracks 141,-partially shown. The closure cap feed tracks 141 are adapted to deliver closure caps 28 to a pair of closure cap-feeding work stations. Closure cap positioning means 142 are employed for insuring the proper positioning of a 010- sure cap 28 at each of tlie closure-cap feeding stations. Means (not shown) are provided for delivering a containerbody 25 vertically below and in alignment with each funnel-shaped member 138 and 139, at a closurecap placement work station, and for transporting such container bodies 25 after being fitted with closure caps 28 from the closure cap-placement work stations.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the inventive concept embodied in the apparatus of FIG. 1 is also utilized in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 with the exception that two pairs of work head mandrels 134 are employed rather than a single pair of work head mandrels 93. Each pair of related mandrels 134 is associated with a respective one of the funnelshapedmembers 138 or 139 and a respective one of the closure caps feed tracks 141. Thus, the number of containers 24 which can be processed by the apparatus of FIG. 13 is substantially twice the number of containers 24 which can be processed by the apparatus of FIG. 1 with both apparatuses operating at the same rotational speed. During each 180 movement of the frame structure of the FIG. 13 apparatus, a closure cap is placed on each of two container bodies 25 simultaneously instead of only one closure cap being placed on a single container body 25 during the same rotational movement of the frame structure 55 of the FIG. 1 apparatus.

The embodiments chosen for the purposes of description and illustration herein are those preferred for achieving the objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirable manner, due regard being had to existing factors of economy, simplicity of design and construction, production methods and the improvements sought to be effected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the particular structural and functional aspects emphasized herein are not intended to exclude, but rather to suggest, such other adaptations and modifications of the invention as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for assembling a preassemblage of a generally circular closure cap and an elongated tube means depending therefrom with a container body having a filling opening so that the tube means is disposed within the container body and the closure cap is seated on the container body and covers the filling opening thereof, comprising: means for supporting said preassemblage at a closure-cap-feeding work station; means for supporting said container body at a closure capplacement work station; preassemblage engaging means for operatively engaging said preassemblage at the closure cap-feeding work station; movable means for transporting said preassemblage engaging means between a first position wherein said preassemblage engaging means is adjacent said closure cap-feeding work station and a second position wherein said reassemblage engaging means is adjacent said closure capplacement work station, said movable means being effective to transport said preassemblage operatively engaged by said preassemblage means from said first position to said second position, said movable means being effective to simultaneously transport said preassemblage engaging means from a position adjacent the closure cap-feeding work station to a position adjacent the closure cap-placement work station as said closure cap engaging means moves from its first position to its second position, said preassemblage engaging means being movable in a first direction when in its second position toward the closure cap-placement work station with respect to said movable means to position said preassemblage operatively. engaged thereby at the closure cap-placement work station; and guide and disconnecting means cooperable with said preassemblage engaging means and the preassemblage operatively engaged thereby for effecting insertion of the supported at the closure cap placement work station, a

portion of said guide and disconnecting means being operatively engageable with the preassemblage for effecting operative disengagement of the preassemblage and said preassemblage engaging means upon movement thereafter of said preassemblage engagement means when in its second position with respect to said movable means and the preassemblage positioned at the closure cap-placement work station in a second direction opposite said first direction.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portion of said guide and disconnecting means cooperable with said preassemblage engaging means includes a generally funnel-shaped means'for directing the tube means into the container body filling opening during said movement of said preassemblage engaging means in the first direction, said funnel-shaped means being operatively engageable with the preassemblage for effecting operative disengagement of the preassemblage and said preassemblage engaging means upon said movement of said preassemblage engaging means thereafter in the second direction.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said funnel-shaped means includes a funnel-shaped member having its smaller end spaced closely adjacent to the filling opening of a container body disposed at the closure cap-placement work station.

4. Apparatus asset forth in claim 1, wherein said preassemblage engaging means includes mandrel means, said mandrel means including a generally cylindrical mandrel, said preassemblage engaging means further including closure cap engaging means disposed at one end of said mandrel, said closure cap engaging means being effective to releasably connect a preassemblage to the end of said mandrel.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said mandrel is movable in said first direction toward the closure cap placement work station to position the preassemblage releasably connected thereto at the closure cap-placement work station; and said guide and disconnecting means cooperable with said preassemblage engaging means includes generally funnel-shaped means for directing the tube means into the container body filling opening during said movement of said mandrel in said first direction, said funnel-shaped means being operatively engageable with the preassemblage for effecting operative disengagement of the preassemblage and said mandrel thereafter in said second direction away from the closure cap-placement work station.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said funnel-shaped means includes a funnel-shaped member having its smaller end spaced closely adjacent to the filling opening of a container body supported at the closure cap-placement work station. I

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said movable means for transporting said preassemblage engaging means includes a rotatable frame structure and means for supporting said mandrel for relative vertical reciprocal'movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame structure being rotatable to a first position so as to dispose said mandrel substantially in vertical alienment with and above a container body at the closure cap-placement work station, and said guide and disconnecting means being cooperable with said mandrel and the preasemblage releasably connected thereto during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position to its extended position when said frame structure is in its first position to direct the tube means of the preassemblage into the filling opening of the container body supported at the closure cap-placement work station, said guide and disconnecting means being further cooperable with said mandrel and the preassemblage connected thereto to effect disconnection of the preassemblage from said mandrel upon return movement of said mandrel from its extended position to its retracted position.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said frame structure is further rotatable to a second position so as to dispose said mandrel substantially in vertical alignment with and above the closure cap-feeding work station, and said closure cap engaging means being effective to frictionally grip a preassemblage during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position to its extended position when said frame structure is in its second position to releasably connect the preassemblage to said mandrel, the preassemblage being thereafter movable in unison with said mandrel upon return movement of said mandrel from its extended position to its retracted position.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further including elongated, vertically disposed sleeve means fixedly supported by said frame structure, the interior surface of said sleeve means being effective for maintaining the tube means of a preassemblage releasably connected to said mandrel against longitudinal flexure while said frame structure is rotated from its second position to its first position and said mandrel is in its retracted position.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said closure cap of a preassemblage is formed with a cylin drical wall portion and said mandrel is provided with an annular groove adjacent one end thereof, and said closure cap engaging means includes a radially compressible ring element confined in said groove, the outermost diameter of said ring element when in its uncompressed state being greater than the inside diameter of cylindrical wall portion of said preassemblage closure cap, said ring element being radially compressible and frictionally engageable with the interior surface of the cylindrical wall portion of a closure cap of a preassemblage at the closure cap-feeding work station during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position to its extended position when said frame structure is in its second position.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said ring element is in the form of an endless helically wound metallic spring.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said funnel-shaped member includes a pair of pivotally supported funnel elements, each of said funnel elements having a substantially semi-circular lowermost edge portion, said funnel elements being pivotal between closed positions wherein the circular opening defined by said lowermost edge portions has a diameter smaller than the outermost diameter of the closure cap of a preassemblage and fully opened positions wherein a closure cap is capable of passing therethrough, said funnel elements being pivotal between their closed positions to their fully opened positions during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position toward its extended position when said frame structure is in its first position, said funnel elements being movable to partially closed positions and into abutting engagement with said mandrel wherein said lowermost edge portions of said funnel elements are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a preassemblage closure cap during further movement of said mandrel to its extended position and complete passage of the preassemblage through said funnel elements, said mandrel being effective to maintain said funnel elements in their partially closed positions by having interior surface portions of said funnel elements in abutting engagement therewith.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said lowermost edge portions of said funnel elements being engageable with the closure cap of a preassemblage when said funnel elements are in their partially closed positions to strip the preassemblage from said mandrel during movement of said mandrel from its extended position toward its retracted position and said frame structure is in its first position.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further including resilient means yieldably urging said funnel elements toward theirclosed positions.

. 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further including stop means operatively engageable with said funnel elements independent of said mandrel for maintaining said funnel elements in a partially closed position, said stop means being operable to maintain said funnel elements in partially closed positions against the yieldable urging of said resilient means when said interior surface portions of said funnel elements are moved out of abutting engagement with said mandrel during continued movement of said mandrel toward its retracted position following stripping of the preassemblage from said mandrel.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further including means responsive to rotation of said frame structure from its first position toward its second position to render said stop'means ineffective to maintain saidfunnel elements in partially closed positions against the yieldable urging of said resilientmeans.

17. Apparatus as set'forth in claim 1, further including track means for sequentially delivering, individual preassemblages of a continuous series of preassemblages arranged in a single row to a position adjacent the closure cap-feeding work. station; and preassemblage positioning means, said positioning means being operable to positively move a single preassemblage from said position adjacent the closure cap-feeding work station to the closure cap-feeding workstation and to simultaneously prevent the entrance of another preassemblage while a preassemblage is present at such work station.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said preassemblage engaging means includes mandrel means, said mandrel means including a pair of generally cylindrical mandrels, said preassemblage engaging means further including closure caps engaging means disposed at one end of each of said mandrels, each of said closure cap engaging means being efiective to releasably connect a preassemblage to the end of a respective mandrel; said movable means for transporting said preassemblage engaging means including a rotatable frame structure and means for supporting each of said mandrels for relative vertical reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame structure being rotatable to a first position so as to dispose one of said mandrels substantially in vertical alignment with and above a container body at the closure cap-placement work station and the other of said mandrels in vertical alignment with and above the closure-cap feeding work station, said frame structure being further rotatable to a second position so as to dispose said one of said mandrels substantially in vertical alignment with and above the closure cap-feeding work station and said other of said mandrels in vertical alignment with and above a container body at the closure cap-placement work station; and power means for reciprocating said mandrels in unison between their retracted and extended positions.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said closure cap engaging means of each of said mandrels being effective to frictionally grip a preassemblage during movement thereof from its retracted position to its extended position when such mandrel is in vertical alignment with the closure cap-feeding work station to releasably connect the preassemblage to such mandrel, said guide and disconnecting means being cooperable with each of said mandrels and the preassemblage releasably connected thereto during movement thereof from its retracted position to its extended position when in vertical alignment with a container body at said closure cap-placement work station to direct the tube means of the preassemblage connected thereto into the filling opening of the container body supported at the closure cap-placement work station, said guide and disconnecting means being further cooperable with each of said mandrels and the preassemblage corinected thereto to effect disconnection of such preassemblage from said mandrel upon return movement of such mandrel from its extended position to its retracted position.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further including means for supporting a preassemblage at a second closure cap-feeding work station; means for supporting a container body at a second closure cap-placement station; and wherein said mandrel means includes a second pair of generally cylindrical mandrels, each of said mandrels of said second pair of mandrels being provided with closure cap engaging means disposed at one end thereof, each of said closure cap engaging means being effective to releasably connect a preassemblage to the end of a respective mandrel; means for supporting each of said mandrels of said second pair of mandrels on said frame structure for relative vertical reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame structure when rotated to its first position simultaneously disposing one of said mandrels of each of said pairs of mandrels substantially in vertical alignment with and above a conbody at a respective one of the closure captamerplacement work stations and the other mandrel of each of said pairs of mandrels in vertical alignment with and above a respective one of the closure cap-feeding work station, said frame structure when rotated to its second position simultaneously disposing said one of said mandrels'of each'of said pairs of mandrels in vertical align ment with and above a respective one of the closure cap-feeding work stations and said other mandrel of each of said pairs of mandrels in vertical alignment with and above acontainer body at a respective one of the closure cap-placement work stations; and said power means being effective to reciprocate said mandrels of both pairs of mandrels in unison between their retracted and extended positions. 

1. Apparatus for assembling a preassemblage of a generally circular closure cap and an elongated tube means depending therefrom with a container body having a filling opening so that the tube means is disposed within the container body and the closure cap is seated on the container body and covers the filling opening thereof, comprising: means for supporting said preassemblage at a closure-cap-feeding work station; means for supporting said container body at a closure cap-placement work station; preassemblage engaging means for operatively engaging said preassemblage at the closure cap-feeding work station; movable means for transporting said preassemblage engaging means between a first position wherein said preassemblage engaging means is adjacent said closure cap-feeding work station and a second position wherein said reassemblage engaging means is adjacent said closure cap-placement work station, said movable means being effective to transport said preassemblage operatively engaged by said preassemblage means from said first position to said second position, said movable means being effective to simultaneously transport said preassemblage engaging means from a position adjacent the closure cap-feeding work station to a position adjacent the closure cap-placement work station as said closure cap engaging means moves from its first position to its second position, said preassemblage engaging means being movable in a first direction when in its second position toward the closure cap-placement work station with respect to said movable means to position said preassemblage operatively engaged thereby at the closure cap-placement work station; and guide and disconnecting means cooperable with said preassemblage engaging means and the preassemblage operatively engaged thereby for effecting insertion of the tube means of the preassemblage operatively engaged by said preassemblage engaging means and for positioning the closure cap of the preassemblage in closing relation with the filling opening of a container body supported at the closure cap placement work station, a portion of said guide and disconnecting means being operatively engageable with the preassemblage for effecting operative disengagement of the preassemblage and said preassemblage engaging means upon movement thereafter of said preassemblage engagement means when in its second position with respect to said movable means and the preassemblage positioned at the closure cap-placement work station in a second direction opposite said first direction.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said portion of said guide and disconnecting means cooperable with said preassemblage engaging means includes a generally funnel-shaped means for directing the tube means into the container body filling opening during said movement of said preassemblage engaging means in the first direction, said funnel-shaped means being operatively engageable with the preassemblage for effecting operative disengagement of the preassemblage and said preassemblage engaging means upon said movement of said preassemblage engaging means thereafter in the second direction.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said funnel-shaped means includes a funnel-shaped member having its smaller end spaced closely adjacent to the filling opening of a container body disposed at the closure cap-placement work station.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said preassemblage engaging means includes mandrel means, said mandrel means including a generally cylindrical mandrel, said preassemblage engaging means further including closure cap engaging means disposed at one end of said mandrel, said closure cap engaging means being effective to releasably connect a preassemblage to the end of said mandrel.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said mandrel is movable in said first direction toward the closure cap placement work station to position the preassemblage releasably connected thereto at the closure cap-placement work station; and said guide and disconnecting means cooperable with said preassemblage engaging means includes generally funnel-shaped means for directing the tube means into the container body filling opening during said movement of said mandrel in said first direction, said funnel-shaped means being operatively engageable with the preassemblage for effecting operative disengagement of the preassemblage and said mandrel thereafter in said second direction away from the closure cap-placement work station.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said funnel-shaped means includes a funnel-shaped member having its smaller end spaced closely adjacent to the filling opening of a container body supported at the closure cap-placement work station.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said movable means for transporting said preassemblage engaging means includes a rotatable frame structure and means for supporting said mandrel for relative vertical reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame structure being rotatable to a first position so as to dispose said mandrel substantially in vertical alienment with and above a container body at the closure cap-placement work station, and said guide and disconnecting means being cooperable with said mandrel and the preasemblage releasably connected thereto during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position to its extended position when said frame structure is in its first position to direct the tube means of the preassemblage into the filling opening of the container body supported at the closure cap-placement work station, said guide and disconnecting means being further cooperable with said mandrel and the preassemblage connected thereto to effect disconnection of the preassemblage from said mandrel upon return movement of said mandrel from its extended position to its retracted position.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said frame structure is further rotatable to a second position so as to dispose said mandrel substantially in vertical alignment with and above the closure cap-feeding work station, and said closure cap engaging means being effective to frictionally grip a preassemblage during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position to its extended position when said frame structure is in its second position to releasably connect the preassemblage to said mandrel, the preassemblage being thereafter movable in unison with sAid mandrel upon return movement of said mandrel from its extended position to its retracted position.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further including elongated, vertically disposed sleeve means fixedly supported by said frame structure, the interior surface of said sleeve means being effective for maintaining the tube means of a preassemblage releasably connected to said mandrel against longitudinal flexure while said frame structure is rotated from its second position to its first position and said mandrel is in its retracted position.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said closure cap of a preassemblage is formed with a cylindrical wall portion and said mandrel is provided with an annular groove adjacent one end thereof, and said closure cap engaging means includes a radially compressible ring element confined in said groove, the outermost diameter of said ring element when in its uncompressed state being greater than the inside diameter of cylindrical wall portion of said preassemblage closure cap, said ring element being radially compressible and frictionally engageable with the interior surface of the cylindrical wall portion of a closure cap of a preassemblage at the closure cap-feeding work station during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position to its extended position when said frame structure is in its second position.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said ring element is in the form of an endless helically wound metallic spring.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said funnel-shaped member includes a pair of pivotally supported funnel elements, each of said funnel elements having a substantially semi-circular lowermost edge portion, said funnel elements being pivotal between closed positions wherein the circular opening defined by said lowermost edge portions has a diameter smaller than the outermost diameter of the closure cap of a preassemblage and fully opened positions wherein a closure cap is capable of passing therethrough, said funnel elements being pivotal between their closed positions to their fully opened positions during movement of said mandrel from its retracted position toward its extended position when said frame structure is in its first position, said funnel elements being movable to partially closed positions and into abutting engagement with said mandrel wherein said lowermost edge portions of said funnel elements are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of a preassemblage closure cap during further movement of said mandrel to its extended position and complete passage of the preassemblage through said funnel elements, said mandrel being effective to maintain said funnel elements in their partially closed positions by having interior surface portions of said funnel elements in abutting engagement therewith.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said lowermost edge portions of said funnel elements being engageable with the closure cap of a preassemblage when said funnel elements are in their partially closed positions to strip the preassemblage from said mandrel during movement of said mandrel from its extended position toward its retracted position and said frame structure is in its first position.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further including resilient means yieldably urging said funnel elements toward their closed positions.
 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, further including stop means operatively engageable with said funnel elements independent of said mandrel for maintaining said funnel elements in a partially closed position, said stop means being operable to maintain said funnel elements in partially closed positions against the yieldable urging of said resilient means when said interior surface portions of said funnel elements are moved out of abutting engagement with said mandrel during continued movement of said mandrel toward its retracted position following stripping of the preassemblage from said mandrel.
 16. Apparatus As set forth in claim 15, further including means responsive to rotation of said frame structure from its first position toward its second position to render said stop means ineffective to maintain said funnel elements in partially closed positions against the yieldable urging of said resilient means.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including track means for sequentially delivering, individual preassemblages of a continuous series of preassemblages arranged in a single row to a position adjacent the closure cap-feeding work station; and preassemblage positioning means, said positioning means being operable to positively move a single preassemblage from said position adjacent the closure cap-feeding work station to the closure cap-feeding work station and to simultaneously prevent the entrance of another preassemblage while a preassemblage is present at such work station.
 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said preassemblage engaging means includes mandrel means, said mandrel means including a pair of generally cylindrical mandrels, said preassemblage engaging means further including closure caps engaging means disposed at one end of each of said mandrels, each of said closure cap engaging means being effective to releasably connect a preassemblage to the end of a respective mandrel; said movable means for transporting said preassemblage engaging means including a rotatable frame structure and means for supporting each of said mandrels for relative vertical reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame structure being rotatable to a first position so as to dispose one of said mandrels substantially in vertical alignment with and above a container body at the closure cap-placement work station and the other of said mandrels in vertical alignment with and above the closure-cap feeding work station, said frame structure being further rotatable to a second position so as to dispose said one of said mandrels substantially in vertical alignment with and above the closure cap-feeding work station and said other of said mandrels in vertical alignment with and above a container body at the closure cap-placement work station; and power means for reciprocating said mandrels in unison between their retracted and extended positions.
 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said closure cap engaging means of each of said mandrels being effective to frictionally grip a preassemblage during movement thereof from its retracted position to its extended position when such mandrel is in vertical alignment with the closure cap-feeding work station to releasably connect the preassemblage to such mandrel, said guide and disconnecting means being cooperable with each of said mandrels and the preassemblage releasably connected thereto during movement thereof from its retracted position to its extended position when in vertical alignment with a container body at said closure cap-placement work station to direct the tube means of the preassemblage connected thereto into the filling opening of the container body supported at the closure cap-placement work station, said guide and disconnecting means being further cooperable with each of said mandrels and the preassemblage connected thereto to effect disconnection of such preassemblage from said mandrel upon return movement of such mandrel from its extended position to its retracted position.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further including means for supporting a preassemblage at a second closure cap-feeding work station; means for supporting a container body at a second closure cap-placement station; and wherein said mandrel means includes a second pair of generally cylindrical mandrels, each of said mandrels of said second pair of mandrels being provided with closure cap engaging means disposed at one end thereof, each of said closure cap engaging means being effective to releasably connect a preassemblage to the end of a respective mandrel; means for sUpporting each of said mandrels of said second pair of mandrels on said frame structure for relative vertical reciprocal movement between a retracted position and an extended position, said frame structure when rotated to its first position simultaneously disposing one of said mandrels of each of said pairs of mandrels substantially in vertical alignment with and above a container body at a respective one of the closure cap-placement work stations and the other mandrel of each of said pairs of mandrels in vertical alignment with and above a respective one of the closure cap-feeding work station, said frame structure when rotated to its second position simultaneously disposing said one of said mandrels of each of said pairs of mandrels in vertical alignment with and above a respective one of the closure cap-feeding work stations and said other mandrel of each of said pairs of mandrels in vertical alignment with and above a container body at a respective one of the closure cap-placement work stations; and said power means being effective to reciprocate said mandrels of both pairs of mandrels in unison between their retracted and extended positions. 